title: [Lupus nephritis associated with nephrotic syndrome].
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by the production of multiple autoantibodies and immune complex formation. Lupus nephritis (LN), which has various histological patterns and variable clinical outcomes, is one of the most important complications of SLE. Although this pathogenetic mechanism in each histologically different type of nephritis remains unclear, recent findings in LN elucidate an essential role for the Th1, IL-17 producing T cells and Th17 cells in the development of diffuse lupus nephritis (DLN), and Th2 cytokine in that of membranous lupus nephritis (MLN). These data support the hypothesis that individual Th1/Th2 balance is one of the critical determinants for histopathology of LN. Therefore the suppression of pivotal role cytokines in each pathological condition may support immunosuppressant strategy for LN.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University.
authors.forename: Katsuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasatomi
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000150:complications*; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*